Watch: How I treated my acne

Skin experts tell us that clear skin is beautiful, clean, and healthy. Pimples are definitely a warning from our bodies, letting us know that something is not right internally.

I’m not a doctor but I’ve been to many who all say the same thing: watch what you eat.

That’s a topic for another blog post but if you really want to clear your skin, it’s important to understand what’s causing it first.

Watch my story on how I’ve been treating my acne below:

Here’s some pics of how bad my acne was. I’m wearing makeup in all of them because, for some reason, it made me feel like it was less noticeable. Ironically, you can see it clearly here:

Taken 2015: I had just stopped using the strong medication prescribed my dermatologist because it was affecting my health. After a few months off YAZ, the breakouts returned.Taken 2016: New year, new breakouts. My poor pores on my forehead were covered in a Mac foundation which just made my breakouts worse.Taken early 2017: I’m not wearing any makeup here. I had changed my diet after seeing a homeopath and my breakouts had begun to clear but I still had a lot of scarring.September 2017: I still get some breakouts before menstruation but it’s not nearly as bad as it was. I’m not wearing foundation in this photo and my hair is covering the sides of my face but that’s where I mostly still have scarring.

Here’s what I’ve been using to help reduce my acne scarring:

Toner

A toner is one of the most underrated products of a skincare routine. It helps to balance your body’s PH levels so that after you’ve cleansed, your body won’t try to produce excess oil to keep your skin hydrated. I’ve been using a Beaucience alcohol-free toner that you can get at Wellness Warehouse for around R 89.

Exfoliating Brush

I immediately fell in love when I started using it. Aside from cleansing and exfoliating my skin, the visible difference is how polished my face looks after using the face brush. I use it in the morning and evening.

I apply a face wash to the bristles of my brush and then scrub my face gently to help remove dead skin and lighten my acne scars. It’s made a huge difference.

Clay Mask

Before acne, masks were a rare treat but now that clear skin has become a mission, I’ve started using masks more frequently. I was gifted the Loreal Detox Clay Mask at the launch of Loreal Elvive’s Curl Pride and decided to try it one night after my skin was looking dull. It really works! I use it once a week now.

Sunscreen

Brown people need sunscreen too! I never bothered applying sunscreen because I’d always worn a moisturizer or foundation with a low SPF. But if you have acne scars and get sunburnt, your scars will be darker so make sure that you protect your skin by applying a good sunscreen.

I use the YungSkin SPF 40 sunscreen which isn’t greasy at all. It has a matte finish, light, creamy texture, and smells really good.

A natural way to clear zits quickly

Cue the angels for tea tree oil.

It has a distinct minty aroma and feels a bit burny if you apply too much.

Pure tea tree oil will dry your skin if you apply oil to areas that aren’t excessively oily. My oily t-panel is where pimples show themselves first but then I apply tea tree oil and the bumps disappear within days.

Was this post helpful to you? Let me know in the comment section below and share it with a friend who may want to reduce his or her acne scarring.